Distracted driving to blame for SUV crash in Petaluma

The impact rolled a Ford Explorer, which slid into a tree and trapped the injured driver in crushed metal, requiring firefighters to free her Sunday.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Distracted driving apparently led to a Petaluma Boulevard North crash, which caused major injuries to a 72-year-old Santa Rosa woman, according to the CHP Monday.

About 1 p.m. Sunday, Driver Melody Anne Hopkins, 37, of Petaluma was reaching for an object in her Nissan Exterra when the driver in front of her slowed for a right turn and put on her blinker, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said in a news release.

When Hopkins looked up, she saw the vehicle, slammed on her brakes and collided with the back of Marilyn Ruth Vancleave’s older-model Ford Explorer.

The Explorer rolled to its side and slid into a tree, trapping the driver in crushed metal. Rancho Adobe and Petaluma firefighters cut the woman free in a complicated extrication effort. She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries.

The 1:05 pm collision closed southbound lanes for about 40 minutes. Officers still are investigating.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707- 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

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